As the world’s hunger for electricity continues to surge, businesses from various industries find themselves grappling with significant energy challenges. The increasing demand has placed a great strain on capacity-constrained utilities, resulting in difficulties in meeting customer needs in a timely fashion. Rising costs and the deteriorating reliability of aging power infrastructure further compound these challenges. In light of these circumstances, it is imperative for businesses to explore emerging trends and energy solutions that enable them to become less reliant on the grid.
Bloom Energy will host a three-part virtual series, “Take Charge of Your Power: A Virtual Series on Energy Challenges Impacting Business Operations and Growth,” with the first installment of the series “Meeting Today’s Demand of Power Requirements,” set for Tuesday, June 6, at 11 a.m. PDT (2 p.m. EDT). Register here.
Meeting Today’s Demand of Power Requirements
Part 1 will focus on one of the most critical aspects of energy challenges faced by businesses today: ensuring electric capacity can match the timeline of their growth plans. As clean energy mandates push for the electrification of various sectors, traditional utilities are struggling to keep pace with the surging demand. But, building new electricity grid assets can take over a decade in the United States alone. With coal and natural gas plants retiring faster than renewable alternatives can be developed, the issue of electric capacity is becoming increasingly complex and urgent.
Speakers Neil Chatterjee, former Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of the United States, Cameron Brooks, Executive Director of Microgrid Today, and James Funk, Bloom’s Vice President of Sales, will delve into the challenges businesses encounter when it comes to securing sufficient electric capacity to support their growth ambitions as well as the implications of capacity-constrained utilities and the limitations they impose on business operations.
Additionally, the roundtable will touch on the impact of rising costs and the reliability concerns stemming from aging power infrastructure. By understanding these challenges, businesses can better strategize and identify solutions to navigate the electric capacity landscape effectively.
Register for the Bloom Energy roundtable on June 6 for an engaging session with industry experts and thought leaders sharing their insights, experiences, and potential solutions.
MEET THE SPEAKERS:
Indranil “Neil” Chatterjee is an accomplished American lawyer, political advisor, and government official who has made significant contributions in the field of energy regulation and policy. He served as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC). Chatterjee’s leadership and expertise led him to be appointed as Chairman of FERC twice, from August 2017 to December 2017 and again from October 2018 to November 2020. During his tenure, he worked diligently to address critical energy challenges and ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of energy for the nation.
Prior to his role at FERC, Chatterjee served as an energy policy advisor to United States Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, where he provided valuable insights and guidance on energy-related matters. With a wealth of experience working for esteemed organizations such as the United States House Committee on Ways and Means, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and under House Republican Conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce, Chatterjee has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing energy policies that benefit both businesses and the American people.
Cameron Brooks is an energy industry leader, serving as the Executive Director of Think Microgrid and President of E9 Insight. As the head of Think Microgrid, Brooks represents the microgrid industry in critical policy discussions at the national and state levels. With E9 Insight, Brooks conducts research on the US utility industry and advises technology companies, advocacy coalitions, and government agencies.
Brooks is also the founder of Tolerable Planet Enterprises, providing regulatory engagement and business development services. With a background in clean energy companies and non-profits, he brings extensive knowledge to his roles. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Brooks is dedicated to advancing sustainable energy solutions.
James Funk is an accomplished Vice President at Bloom Energy, where he has played a key role in spearheading the development of over 150 MW of fuel cell projects across the United States. With a career spanning more than 12 years, Funk has successfully implemented these projects in diverse mission-critical industries, including data centers, hospitals, telephony switches, and critical manufacturing facilities.
As a recognized expert in Microgrid applications, Funk brings invaluable insights and expertise to the table. Prior to his tenure at Bloom Energy, he spent seven years representing the products and services of the Corporate Executive Board’s Finance Practice, further enhancing his deep understanding of the industry. Funk holds an MBA from the prestigious Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley, where he completed the full-time program,and earned his undergraduate degrees in Economics and Political Science from Colgate University.
Don’t miss out! Click here to register now for this insightful webinar.
